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Rides, Animals And Cotton Candy: The Oregon State Fair Is Underway

The Oregon State Fair has been an end-of-summer tradition in Salem since 1862. This year's version kicked off Friday with the usual array of carnival rides, baby animals and junk food.

In the midst of touring the livestock barn, 11-year-old Elizabeth Mapes of Hillsboro said she was really looking forward to fair food, especially the cotton candy.

"It's more of a dessert and less of a food, but it's still really good," Mapes said.

The piglets were a big draw for Peggy Knapp of Milwaukie, Oregon. She said she and her husband have been coming to the fair for at least 60 years.

"I like to see all the little animals and I like to see everything that's new in the crafts," Knapp said.

This year's Oregon State Fairruns through Labor Day, September 4. There is an admission charge that varies by age and day of the week.

The chairlift is one of many rides that beckon visitors to the Oregon State Fair in Salem.
Chris Lehman / Northwest News Network
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Northwest News Network
The chairlift is one of many rides that beckon visitors to the Oregon State Fair in Salem.

Copyright 2017 Northwest News Network

Chris Lehman graduated from Temple University with a journalism degree in 1997. He landed his first job less than a month later, producing arts stories for Red River Public Radio in Shreveport, Louisiana. Three years later he headed north to DeKalb, Illinois, where he worked as a reporter and announcer for NPR–affiliate WNIJ–FM. In 2006 he headed west to become the Salem Correspondent for the Northwest News Network.